I Have A Beef!

AirPro

Especially against you HVAC guys, but I am sure there are a few posts in the electrical forum that qualify. Do you guys realize you are giving homeowners advice on how to fix their own gas furnace? Or how to wire a light circuit? Don't we have enough problems with people buying equipment over the internet, then trying to get us to install this stuff for pennies on the dollar? Besides the fact that you are giving advice to someone about something that could potentially blow their house up....is there no contractor creed where you guys come from?

Keep feeding them this info and let them do it themself, we will ALL be out of work soon. I don't know about the other mechanical contractors on this site, but I spent ALOT ot time and MONEY to get properly licensed in my state, and it really pisses me off that you guys are spouting off all this information that a typical homeowner SHOULD NOT be even trying to do, let alone that WE ARE SUPPOSED TO GET PAID TO DO!

A note to the admin also, you may want to put a leash on this to prevent any fallout should something bad happen from advice given here. Advice on what filter, temp setting is one thing....when you instruct a homeowner to open up his gas furnace and make a repair himself....thats a BIG OLE can of bad stuff waiting to happen.

Sorry for the rant, but it needed to be said.

Ben76

Boo-hoo

I'm sure you've been directly affected by it

slickshift

AirPro

The advice shared here is supposed to be by and to other people in the "trades"
That means that a certain amount of knowledge about safety and precautions
Even when the advice is going across trades

The advice that would be given to an average homeowner/DIYer would be very different

If there are non-tradesman signing up just to ask questions, please let us know
There's a little red button with a ! in it
Click on it and fill out the reason you are "reporting a bad post"
Thank you

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ModernStyle I have never used this crap before and I pray to the paint gods that I never have to use it again, I would rather use Behr

mdshunk

This site has always had a pretty strict "no DIY" policy. Sometimes it's hard to tell. We've generally answered any type of trade related question for a tradesman of any trade. That is to say, a plumber can ask an HVAC question, and will have it answered. Nathan has set up www.diychatroom.com as a place to direct homeowners.

If you smell a DIY post, hit the 'report post' button that looks like this: A moderator will handle it from there, and make whatever decisions might be required. Yes, liability is always a concern of mine too. I try to make a half-decent guess as to whether the person to whom I'm responding is already famaliar with the hazards involved in a particular task.

slickshift

Beatcha by a nose shunk




...though I like your ! better

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ModernStyle I have never used this crap before and I pray to the paint gods that I never have to use it again, I would rather use Behr

osborn

Im a true believer in the secret hand shake( someone in the trades that know the lingo and methods). I feel comfortable that the people on here can tell the difference between the secret handshake and the HO that are fishing for info.

dayexco

you guys start sniffin each other's butts...i'm outta here

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someday, i'll be as patient as Nick.

A.W.Davis

same here.....unless its hot large chested blonde.

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mdshunk

Why do people say "I have a beef" when they have a problem. I like beef. If someone says "I have a beef" to me, my immediate first thought is to say "can I have some?"

C.C.R.

WHERE'S THE BEEF?!

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A.W.Davis

.......wheres the beef



http://www.fugly.com/videos/6299/wheres_the_beef.html

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ruskent

The reason this forum is so good is because they keep out non-trades.

I really wish there was the way to keep non-trades from viewing any post on this site period. I'd even pay a member ship fee for that!

AirPro

I have, and I hope you will too, maybe you will see what I am talking about....our don't you have a license?

AirPro

The advice I am speaking of is in the HVAC section and to homeowners asking DIY questions. I have NO problem offering advice to someone else in the trade.

AirPro

I am specifically refering to a post I read yesterday in the HVAC section where a homeowner was told how to clean a flame sensor. That might not be a big deal in some states, but in Florida you better have a state AIR CONDITIONING contractors license to even remove a panel from a gas furnace.
All I am saying is that the more our trades hit the internet with sales and advice to the DIY'er, the more it hurts us as a collective.

AirPro

Also, to elaborate...I have no problem giving ADVICE to a fellow tradesman of any catagory, but I will not instruct a drywall guy or paver on how to do a repair on a Heat pump or gas furnace that I know he hasn't the knowledge or skill to do.

JamesNLA

http://www.askthebuilder.com/141_3_W...Switches.shtml

This site is not the mecca of how a DIY'r gets his info. While there are many HO who take on tasks that are above their skill level there are MANY MANY MANY more folks that go to their phone book and call you.

Life changes, so change your business with it. You don't get to control what others do or what they read. I get what your saying and it makes sense, and for the most part when a novice is asking totally lame questions, with all of 2 or 4 posts under his belt, they usually get the "Call an electrician - Call a Plumber" response. A membership site would kill everything this site offers to tradesman. Sorry pal but the 3 or 4 clients that clean their own fire stick or whatever is just life. Just look at it this way, chances are they will screw up, and HAVE to call you out to fix their stuff. I get that almost often. I smile and say that's OK, I'll take care of it, make it painless and leave them happy. Kinda like going to the dentist after years. no?

AirPro

I know about all the DYI sites, that isn't the issue (well, it is but we have to start somewhere). The problem I have is giving up potentially damaging (even life threating) information to a person that is not qualified to do the checks/repair, etc... to repair their own equipment.

To the Naysayers...I would not even attempt to tile my floor,or do my own drywall and paint....why? because I would rather it be done RIGHT and look good!

jproffer

Ive said it in other places and I can say it here:

Assuming a HO (which shouldn't even be here) is here asking questions, IF they slip through the cracks and they aren't directed to diychatroom.com:

After they get and turn down the best advice(call a pro), then what I basically start to hear is "I AM going to do this, with or without any guidance" and I think we should at least attempt to make it as safe as possible by telling them the dangers and the proper techniques. Naturally, they are usually reminded several times along the way that hiring it done is still their best option, and something they should seriously consider.

Ultimately, the odds of someone "blowing up" their house are small (usually)*, and when they find out they can't do the repairs, they call us anyway.
**Obviously, some jobs are more dangerous than others, and as said above, most people on here can usually gauge a persons abilities by the questions they ask and the terms they use.

As for the liability, I would think that the people answering are doing their "due diligence" by reitterating the fact (sometimes to an almost annoying level, which is good ) that having it done professionally is the way to go.

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Jim P.

copusbuilder

I can see and understand Air Pros gripe.

Call a doctor or ask self medicating practices on a forum

Call a lwyer and get a little free info, or a politician

Good point and one that should be taken seriously.

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